Becoming Pregnant When You Have Diabetes

Women with diabetes can have healthy babies, but it takes planning ahead and effort. Pregnancy can make both high and low blood glucose levels happen more often. It can make diabetic eye disease and diabetic kidney disease worse. High glucose levels during pregnancy are dangerous for the baby, too.

If you don't want to become pregnant, talk with your health care provider about birth
control.

Protecting Your Baby and Yourself

Keeping your glucose levels near normal before and during pregnancy can help protect
you and your baby. That's why it's so important to plan your pregnancies ahead of time.

If you want to have a baby, discuss it with your health care provider. Work with your diabetes care team to get and
keep your blood glucose in the normal or near-normal range before you become pregnant.
Your glucose records and your hemoglobin A1c test results
will show when you have maintained a safe range for a period of time.

You may need to change your meal plan and your
usual physical activity, and you may need to take more frequent insulin shots. Testing your glucose several times a day
will help you see how well you're balancing things. Record the test results in your
logbook or on a log sheet.

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Get a complete check of your eyes and kidneys before you try to become pregnant. Don't smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs --- doing these things can harm you and your baby.

Having Diabetes During Pregnancy

Some women have diabetes only when they're pregnant. This condition, which is called
gestational diabetes , can be controlled just like
other kinds of diabetes. Glucose control is the key. Your health care team can help you
take charge of gestational diabetes.

Some women with diabetes may have specials problems, such as bladder and kidney infections.
If you have an infection, it needs to be treated right away. Call your doctor.

Women with diabetes can have healthy babies, but it takes planning ahead and effort. Pregnancy can make both high and low blood glucose levels happen more often. It can make diabetic eye disease and diabetic kidney disease worse. High glucose levels during pregnancy are dangerous for the baby, too.

If you don't want to become pregnant, talk with your health care provider about birth
control.

Protecting Your Baby and Yourself

Keeping your glucose levels near normal before and during pregnancy can help protect
you and your baby. That's why it's so important to plan your pregnancies ahead of time.

If you want to have a baby, discuss it with your health care provider. Work with your diabetes care team to get and
keep your blood glucose in the normal or near-normal range before you become pregnant.
Your glucose records and your hemoglobin A1c test results
will show when you have maintained a safe range for a period of time.

You may need to change your meal plan and your
usual physical activity, and you may need to take more frequent insulin shots. Testing your glucose several times a day
will help you see how well you're balancing things. Record the test results in your
logbook or on a log sheet.

Content Continues Below ⤵ ↷

Get a complete check of your eyes and kidneys before
you try to become pregnant. Don't smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs --- doing these things can harm you and your baby.

Some women have diabetes only when they're pregnant. This condition, which is called
gestational diabetes , can be controlled just like
other kinds of diabetes. Glucose control is the key. Your health care team can help you
take charge of gestational diabetes.

Controlling Diabetes for Women's Health

Some women with diabetes may have specials problems, such as bladder and kidney infections.
If you have an infection, it needs to be treated right away. Call your doctor.

Some women get yeast
infections in their vagina, especially when their blood glucose is high. A sign of a
yeast infection may be itching in the vagina. If you notice vaginal itching, tell your
health care provider. You may learn about medicines you can buy at the drugstore and about
how to prevent yeast infections.

Some women with diabetes may have trouble with sexual function. Discomfort caused by
vaginal itching or dryness can be treated.

Ask your doctor how often you should get a pap smear and a mammogram (breast X-ray).
Regular pap smears and mammograms help detect cervical and breast cancer early. All women
--- whether or not they have diabetes --- need to keep up with these tests.

Some women get yeast
infections in their vagina, especially when their blood glucose is high. A sign of a
yeast infection may be itching in the vagina. If you notice vaginal itching, tell your
health care provider. You may learn about medicines you can buy at the drugstore and about
how to prevent yeast infections.

Some women with diabetes may have trouble with sexual function. Discomfort caused by
vaginal itching or dryness can be treated.

Content Continues Below ⤵ ↷

Ask your doctor how often you should get a pap smear and a mammogram (breast X-ray).
Regular pap smears and mammograms help detect cervical and breast cancer early. All women
--- whether or not they have diabetes --- need to keep up with these tests.

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